It Looks Like Brett Goldstein Chose ‘Ted Lasso’ Over ‘Harry Potter'

There are eight Harry Potter movies. I’ve seen, like, two and a half of them (the first two and a chunk of the one with R Patts). Not a fan! But, just because I don’t want to drink butterscotch and learn everything about my magical house (I do know a Horned Serpent. America.) doesn’t mean I judge others for doing so. I’ve worn enough capes and magical space rings that even cocking an eyebrow would be silly on my part! I even have sympathy for a very specific plight Harry Potter fans are facing: How can you support something when its creator is a raging bigot?

J.K. Rowling has made the recent years of her career about hating Trans people. It’s despicable. It is also a slap in the face of many of her fans who found comfort and acceptance in the themes presented in her books. They grew up with the movies, and then, were told by the creator that not only are their lives “wrong,” they are serial assaulters who follow women into restrooms and all manner of abhorrent accusations. Rowling has leaned into her rhetoric to a stunning degree. So much so that, when producing a new Harry Potter TV show based on the books, Warner Bothers Discovery had to issue a statement saying she had a right to “express her personal views” as a way to say “get over it.”

The company is pushing forward with a show, in which Rowling will be involved, and presumably had to test the waters casting-wise to see who would want to weather a potential storm. Names were being bandied about, but no one was being cast. “Talks” about casting are often reported, but this seemed to have an extra wrinkle; it felt like they were gauging reactions. Unsurprisingly, when Paapa Essiedu was announced as possibly playing Professor Snape, certain s***ty fans were mad a person of color would be playing a white character (these types of fans are not exclusive to the Harry Potter franchise).

But there was more reasonable outrage that anyone would want to be involved in the show at all given J.K. Rowling’s loud and proud hatred of the Trans community. That’s why there was an audible groan when Brett Goldstein was announced as being in talks to play Hagrid, a giant man with a beard who invites Harry Potter to his destiny. It is a beloved character, and Goldstein is a beloved actor. As Dustin noted at the time, it felt like a choice meant to sway apprehensive fans. Well, it didn’t take.

The writing should have been on the wall when Ted Lasso was confirmed to be returning with a fourth season. Goldstein is a writer and star of that show. There’s no way he would have been able to do both. Now, we know that for sure, as Warner Brothers announced their pick for Hagrid: Nick Frost. The actor has a long history of “nerd cred” so he’s a good choice. He’s also larger than life, just like the bearded giant. It’s a pretty great choice for the role, but that doesn’t mean people will get behind it.

John Lithgow has decades of goodwill built up, but that hasn’t stopped fans from decrying his involvement in the show (he’ll be playing Dumbledore). I don’t think any actor will be able to escape backlash, so it’s probably best Goldstein stays clear of the project (cause there’s definitely no backlash about Lasso returning. Nope! None at all.). Still, the real question is whether people will reject the show outright. Friends of mine have a ten-year-old who was complaining to them just the other day that the movies should be remade (I’m dead serious). The IP may hold enough sway that people will ignore all of J.K. Rowling’s putrid hate, only time will tell.